What is Social Entrepreneurship?
Social Entrepreneurship takes a business approach to a problematic societal issue, for example glass recycling, which is a growing concern worldwide. Glass is 100% recyclable, however almost all of it goes into our landfills, wasting valuable resources and a significant amount of energy.
Focused on sustainability, The Olio served as Winston-Salem’s only furnace glassblowing studio from 2014-2020. Recycling and repurposing was critical to program and marketing efforts.
Waste glass was collected from the community and mixed with a proprietary flux system, which created a workable and compatible glass for melting in the furnace to create a variety of work for sale.
The unique glass recycling system served as an excellent teaching tool for the Youth Apprentice Program, as well as community engagement, through various programs and workshops featuring a focus on glass and its infinite potential for learning, scientific research, sustainability, and product development.
The Olio closed in October 2020 due to Covid-19. Thank you, Winston-Salem and the Triad community for six incredible years!!
“Creativity will be the currency of the 21st century.”
~ Gerald Gordon